MP defends hospital ward closure
A PORTSMOUTH MP has defended the closure of a ward for patients nearing the end of their lives.
Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt has said the closure of G5 at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, is justified by the new model of care that will be replacing it.
The ward, which provides end of life care for patients over 65, is set to close next month.
The staff will instead form an end of life care team to work throughout the hospital and train other staff to deliver the same care. Meanwhile patients will be cared for on normal wards.
Miss Mordaunt said: 'I think it's a shame that an end of life care ward is closing as it is vital to have a peaceful part of the hospital for those close to the end.
'However I know that even with G5 up and running patients were being put on other wards and do not appear to have had specialist nursing staff on hand.
'I'm therefore supportive of a mobile team. Hopefully it will address some of the complaints I've had about end of life care at the hospital.
'It will also be good to have a specialist nurse being able to go into a ward and look after an individual when needed.
'I trust the clinicians. They want the best for the patients and there's a clear strategy in place here.'
She added: 'But the QA must ensure and demonstrate there is also suitable bed space.
'I will be making representations to the end of life steering group on this.'
Meanwhile Dr Mark Roland, the clinical lead for end of life care for South Central Strategic Health Authority, has also defended the hospital replacing G5 with the new model of care.
Dr Roland is a respiratory consultant at QA and the chair of the end of life steering group at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. He was also involved in the decision to change the service.
He said: 'More patients will benefit from this model of care. The nurses on G5 who do an amazing job, will be able to share their skills across the hospital.
'This is the first real investment we've made in end of life care for a long time. We are striving to make it better and this is an opportunity to do that.
'I think this is very exciting. I'm expecting improvements and changes I've been waiting to see for years.'
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Friday 25 May 2012
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